Yep, you read that correctly. In an ongoing effort to simplify, simplify, simplify, a friend introduced me to a way to never again purchase lotion or lip balm. It’s as easy as boiling water (and knowing how to use a double boiler).
First, grab your kitchen scale.
Don’t have a kitchen scale? OK. Stop reading this post. Go get one.
<sits twiddling thumbs, waiting>
Glad you’re back! Now let’s get to work.
My dear friend Amanda made this smooth-like-buttah lotion for me, and I had to make some for myself. For my friends. For my family. This lotion is a revelation.
PROS: hard lotion travels well, heals rough cheeks and lips, heals cracked skin on hands and heels, and Amanda reports it even works for her kids as a bug bite salve. It’s natural, contains no chemicals, and takes up much less space than large containers of liquid lotion.
CONS: leads to hard lotion addiction. There is no known 12-step group for this.
I had the beeswax and coconut oil on hand, so all I had to do was wander over to Amazon and find the shea butter. I investigated this a bit as user reviews led me to discover not all shea butters are created equal. I settled on a product that was a bit more expensive, but it worked out perfectly in the end.
Hard Lotion
Print recipeIngredients
- kitchen scale
- double-boiler pot or glass bowl that fits just inside rim of small saucepan
- 4.5oz beeswax
- 4.5oz coconut oil
- 4oz shea butter
- small tins, containers, molds
Directions
| Step 1 | |
| Combine all ingredients in a double boiler or glass bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Do not allow the water to touch the bottom of the bowl. | |
| Step 2 | |
| The beeswax will likely take the longest to melt, but it will eventually happen. (You can also melt the beeswax in the microwave, though I personally don’t own one of them newfangled contraptions.) Stir occasionally. | |
| Step 3 | |
| Once ingredients are combined, pour into molds/tins/lip balm tubes and allow to harden at room temperature. | |
| Step 4 | |
| Let them cool for several hours before removing the lotion bars from the molds. | |
| Step 5 | |
| Wrap individually in plastic wrap or place in small bags. Store in a cool, dry, dark place. | |
Have you ever made personal care/beauty products at home?